If you run a farm in Utah or Idaho, you already know the drill: crops need spraying, and you either do it yourself with a ground rig, hire a custom applicator, or call a fixed-wing aerial applicator. But there's a newer option — agricultural drone spraying — and it's worth understanding how it compares.
Ground rigs and drones are different tools with different strengths. Here's a factual, side-by-side look at the key differences so you can decide what fits your operation.
Crop Contact
A ground rig drives through the field. Depending on the crop stage and row spacing, that means tire tracks, some plant contact, and soil compaction in the wheel paths. Many farmers account for this with tramlines or by timing applications to stages when the crop can tolerate traffic.
A drone operates 6-10 feet above the canopy and never touches the field. There's no plant contact and no soil compaction from the application itself.
The tradeoff: Ground rigs are a proven, familiar tool that most operations already have access to. Drones avoid field contact entirely, which matters more in some crops and growth stages than others.
Drift Characteristics
Ground rigs spray from boom height — typically 18-24 inches above the canopy. Boom height and nozzle selection play a big role in managing drift, and most operators manage this well with proper setup.
Drones fly low and their rotors create downwash — a column of air pushing toward the ground. This downwash helps drive the spray down into the crop canopy. The flight height and rotor effect give drones a different drift profile than boom sprayers.
The tradeoff: Both methods can achieve good drift management with proper technique. Drones have a natural advantage from rotor downwash, while ground rigs benefit from decades of nozzle technology and well-understood drift management practices.
Speed and Coverage
A large ground rig with a 90-120 foot boom covers a lot of ground quickly. On flat, open fields with good access roads, ground rigs are very efficient in terms of acres per hour.
Drones cover fewer acres per hour in open, flat conditions, but they handle terrain differently. Hillsides, small irregular fields, fields with waterways or obstacles, or soft ground after rain — these situations slow down or stop a ground rig but don't affect a drone.
The tradeoff: Ground rigs excel on large, flat, accessible fields. Drones handle varied terrain and difficult access situations where ground equipment is limited.
Application Precision
Modern ground rigs — especially those with GPS auto-steer and section control — achieve very precise application. Rate controllers and individual nozzle shutoffs minimize overlap and ensure even coverage.
Drones fly a GPS-guided path at a consistent speed and height, which provides even coverage without manual steering. The programmed flight path naturally avoids the overlap that can happen with manually-driven equipment.
The tradeoff: Both can achieve high precision. A GPS-equipped ground rig and a GPS-guided drone are closer in accuracy than many people assume. The difference is more about the platform than the precision technology.
Field Access
Ground rigs need the field to be dry enough to support the equipment without causing ruts or getting stuck. After a rain event, you may need to wait days before conditions allow entry. In hilly terrain, steep slopes can limit where a ground rig can safely operate.
Drones operate from the air and aren't affected by field surface conditions. Wet ground, steep slopes, rocky terrain, and small oddly-shaped parcels are all accessible.
The tradeoff: If your fields are flat and well-drained, access isn't usually an issue for either method. If you farm in areas like the foothills around Cache Valley, the benches above the Snake River Plain, or anywhere with variable terrain and drainage — drones offer access flexibility that ground equipment can't match.
Cost
If you already own a ground rig, your per-acre cost is mainly chemical, fuel, and time. Hiring a custom applicator adds a service fee on top of that.
Drone spraying is priced per acre. The total cost depends on acreage, application type, and terrain. For some operations — especially smaller acreages where hiring a custom applicator isn't practical, or fields where ground access is difficult — drone application can be cost-competitive or even more economical.
The tradeoff: The math is different for every farm. Your acreage, existing equipment, terrain, and what you're applying all factor in.
When Each Method Fits Best
A ground rig is a strong choice when:
- You have large, flat, well-drained fields
- You already own the equipment and have it set up
- Field conditions are dry and the crop can handle traffic
- You need maximum acres-per-hour on open ground
A drone is a strong choice when:
- Your fields have slopes, wet spots, or obstacles
- Your crop is at a growth stage where tire traffic would cause damage
- The field is too wet for ground equipment but the spray window is closing
- You're working smaller or irregularly-shaped fields
- You want an option that doesn't require owning or scheduling heavy equipment
The Bottom Line
Ground rigs and drones are both effective application tools — they just have different strengths. Many farmers will find that a ground rig handles most of their spraying needs, while drones fill in for specific situations where ground access, crop sensitivity, or terrain make a rig less practical.
If you're curious how drone application might fit into your operation, reach out for a free quote. We're happy to talk through your specific situation and give you a straight answer on whether it makes sense for your fields.